Stories of Friendship

At 99 Balloons, our focus goes beyond creating space for people to gather. Through programs like bEfriend, we delve deeper into relationships and what it means to be fully known. In this model of ministry, we initiate one-on-one pairings between people with and without disabilities that grow into lasting, life-changing, authentic friendships.

Meet Tanner and Thomas, for example. When Tanner joined bEfriend about three years ago, one of the first gatherings he attended was a holiday party. That’s where he met Thomas, who was decked out in a Christmas blazer. The two became fast friends, and over the last few years, they’ve enjoyed countless breakfasts at Village Inn, lunches at Red Robin, and trips to the movies. They’ve even celebrated birthdays together, being the same age and sharing a birth month!

“Thomas has brought so much joy into my life, and not only my life, but into my whole family,” Tanner said. “He’s really taught me the meaning of true, genuine friendship.”

Friendships like this are so important, and they are blossoming because of programs like bEfriend. That is our “why,” and we will continue working to change the story of disability from one of isolation to one of inclusion, one friendship at a time.

We currently have a list of people waiting to be paired. We just need you! If you are interested in learning more about bEfriend and how to get involved, please reach out to us through the link below. We would love to chat with you.

https://www.99balloons.org/contact-us

To join in this mission of bEfriend, consider making a donation through our website to help us continue building inclusive communities everywhere.